si diaries part 2
sorry, no editing again
5/11/06
We went around West and East Guadalcanal today (I must really brush up on my history). We were still checking out the roadworks but it didn't feel like work at all because it was such a beautiful day. The West roads are by the beach and is apparently a good snorkelling site. And to think it's only about 1.5 hours out of Honiara! We didn't have time to go swimming of course but we did stop for lunch and ate by the beach. We also went to Tambia (sp?) where there used to be a resort before it got burned down during the riots. The pool is still there, probably home to crocs (haha no, I didn't see any). Sobrang sayang...
We also had another community consultation, this time in the town of Visale. Diana, the wife of one of the staff and who's here as a consultant for the early education project funded by the govt of NZ tagged along. She had lived here before so she knows Pidgin. Customarily, the men and women do their business separately so she was kind enough to lead the women. Pidgin is relatively easy to follow so I more or less got the gist of what everyone was saying and asked Diana to translate the answers to some of the questions. Maybe I should try studying Pidgin?
7/11/06
waaaahhhh! i wanna go home!!! Sleep on my own bed, shower in my own bathroom, eat (or not eat) in my own kitchen, go about my daily routine. *sigh* 3 1/2 days and 3 more nights to go. Ok, let's think bout the advantages... at least I get to sleep in for another hour, get driven to and from work, not have to clean up after myself, not have to do my own laundry. But to not have the urge to wash my face and hands every hour because you've apparently become a dust magnet and to be able to go to the shops without having to worry that you're going to get mugged, or worse. I've never missed Sydney as much, and that's saying a lot.
3 hours later...
Ok, I think someone heard me. We get to go home early. Our flight's been moved to Thursday AM. yeeeyyy!
8/11/2006
Had dinner last night with leddydee at this restaurant overlooking the town and sea. It was really nice, quite hidden away and actually, a good date place. And then full moon pa! How nice and romantic if it were really a date! But it was a good night. She was full of stories about her time with the Peace Corps in Malaita and her groovy days when she dated the singer of the Knack! wow! Sobra ko na siyang idol.
Last day in Solomons today. We're having a wrap up meeting in half an hour then I think I'll beg off dinner because I feel so exhausted. When I woke up this morning, my eyes were so puffy, like I had cried. I thought naman I slept relatively early but it must not have been a restful sleep. We have to get up early tomorrow to catch our 7am(!) flight besides. I'm not buying souvenirs anymore, was going to get beads or something sana but parang I'm lazy na to go to the market. Also, Ken and Shirley gave me a box of Taiyo tuna (the best tasting tuna) so that will be my souvenir. hehe Also, I wanna nick some mud crabs from Rishi. I wanna steam them or cook in coconut milk and squash. yummmm! He cooked some last Saturday but I thought the taste got overwhelmed with all the curry spices and chili. Nothing beats patis and calamansi!
5/11/06
We went around West and East Guadalcanal today (I must really brush up on my history). We were still checking out the roadworks but it didn't feel like work at all because it was such a beautiful day. The West roads are by the beach and is apparently a good snorkelling site. And to think it's only about 1.5 hours out of Honiara! We didn't have time to go swimming of course but we did stop for lunch and ate by the beach. We also went to Tambia (sp?) where there used to be a resort before it got burned down during the riots. The pool is still there, probably home to crocs (haha no, I didn't see any). Sobrang sayang...
We also had another community consultation, this time in the town of Visale. Diana, the wife of one of the staff and who's here as a consultant for the early education project funded by the govt of NZ tagged along. She had lived here before so she knows Pidgin. Customarily, the men and women do their business separately so she was kind enough to lead the women. Pidgin is relatively easy to follow so I more or less got the gist of what everyone was saying and asked Diana to translate the answers to some of the questions. Maybe I should try studying Pidgin?
7/11/06
waaaahhhh! i wanna go home!!! Sleep on my own bed, shower in my own bathroom, eat (or not eat) in my own kitchen, go about my daily routine. *sigh* 3 1/2 days and 3 more nights to go. Ok, let's think bout the advantages... at least I get to sleep in for another hour, get driven to and from work, not have to clean up after myself, not have to do my own laundry. But to not have the urge to wash my face and hands every hour because you've apparently become a dust magnet and to be able to go to the shops without having to worry that you're going to get mugged, or worse. I've never missed Sydney as much, and that's saying a lot.
3 hours later...
Ok, I think someone heard me. We get to go home early. Our flight's been moved to Thursday AM. yeeeyyy!
8/11/2006
Had dinner last night with leddydee at this restaurant overlooking the town and sea. It was really nice, quite hidden away and actually, a good date place. And then full moon pa! How nice and romantic if it were really a date! But it was a good night. She was full of stories about her time with the Peace Corps in Malaita and her groovy days when she dated the singer of the Knack! wow! Sobra ko na siyang idol.
Last day in Solomons today. We're having a wrap up meeting in half an hour then I think I'll beg off dinner because I feel so exhausted. When I woke up this morning, my eyes were so puffy, like I had cried. I thought naman I slept relatively early but it must not have been a restful sleep. We have to get up early tomorrow to catch our 7am(!) flight besides. I'm not buying souvenirs anymore, was going to get beads or something sana but parang I'm lazy na to go to the market. Also, Ken and Shirley gave me a box of Taiyo tuna (the best tasting tuna) so that will be my souvenir. hehe Also, I wanna nick some mud crabs from Rishi. I wanna steam them or cook in coconut milk and squash. yummmm! He cooked some last Saturday but I thought the taste got overwhelmed with all the curry spices and chili. Nothing beats patis and calamansi!